“Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times’ ” (Luke 22:60-61).
No one who follows Jesus wants to fail. This was one of the most noted failures in history. Peter, who had followed Jesus for three years, denied knowing Him. If any event would look on the surface like a disqualifying decision it would be Peter’s denying Christ. Peter himself was so broken by his failure that he wept bitterly.
Peter had thought he wasn’t capable of failing this miserably. He had said that if all others forsook Jesus he would not. He’s like many of us who look ahead and overestimate what we would do under pressure. His pride and self-confidence were shattered.
That, however, isn’t the end of Peter’s story. When Jesus rose from the dead He sent word to His disciples “and Peter.” When we give up on ourselves He doesn’t give up on us. On the day of Pentecost Peter stood and openly proclaimed his allegiance to Jesus. He did that at the risk of his own safety. Don’t let a moment of failure ruin the rest of your life. Jesus forgives us our weaknesses and empowers us to go on to a life of purpose. Failure doesn’t disqualify us because we serve a God who knows how to restore us so we can fulfill our destinies.
